Dench, Frederick Kenneth
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Frederick Kenneth |
Surname | Dench |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James C. Dench and Lilian F. Dench, of Shoreditch, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | LM442 |
Markings | GI-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 1. D. 5-8. |
Epitaph | YOUR FACE WE MISS, A VOICE IS STILL. A SPACE IN OUR HEARTS ONLY YOU COULD FILL |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 154 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1890830 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 622 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John, Beck Row, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on rear external wall of Church |
Memorial Text | In remembrance of all who served at RAF Mildenhall and associated aerodromes in the cause of freedom, 1939-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2139/11 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2137/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-02-1944 |
End Date | 25-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Schweinfurt- the first raid on this particular target (the centre of ball-bearing manufacture in Germany). 734 aircraft, 33 losses (4.5%). A new tactic was introduced where the bomber force was split into two waves separated by two hours. The first wave Lost 22 aircraft (5.6%) but the second Lost only 11 (3.2%) of which only 4 were shot down. Poor PFF target marking led to local reports quoting 'nominal damage'. Note that there had been a raid comprising 266 8th Air Force B-17s the night before so it is difficult to attribute damage levels. |
Reason for Loss | Attacked by a night-fighter on leaving the target area and whilst at 20000', causing serious structural damage and going out of control while F/S Dench attended to Sgt McFadden's wounds |